The growing girth of the average Briton has led to retailers dishing out ever increasing portion sizes in the supermarkets, researchers revealed yesterday.
The British Heart Foundation, which conducted the study, called for an "urgent review" of portion size descriptions.
Consumers will get less vanilla ice cream and fewer oven chips if they shop according to portions – but in most other respects they will get more, researchers found.
The popular British staple of shepherd’s pie is now sold as portions twice the size of 20 years ago, researchers found.
And chicken curry portions are now 53% larger while chicken pies are 40% larger.
Meanwhile the size of plain sweetmeal biscuits has increased by 17%.
Foundation chief executive Simon Gillespie said: "Portion sizes in the UK are often inconstant and misleading and we need to take control. It’s important we get portion sizes on products right on because when people are presented with more food, they eat more food."
He added: “The UK Government has not updated its information on typical portion sizes for 20 years and there is currently no legislation relating to portion sizes. It’s time for an urgent review so the portion size playing field is levelled and consumers can be helped to make healthier choices.”
* Meanwhile researchers last night said they had found strong link between risk of heart disease and low consumption of fibre in the diet.
The British government recommends the public to ensure they have five items of fruit and vegetables daily.
The US researchers found a strong link between obesity and those consuming the least amount of fibre – and this was linked to the so-called metabolic syndrome, the point at which high levels of cholesterol and blood sugar is about to turn into diabetes and heart disease.
The findings are due to be reported in the American Journal of Medicine.
Dietary Fiber Intake and Cardiometabolic Risks Among US Adults, NHANES 1999-2010. American Journal of Medicine Volume 126, Issue 12; doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2013.07.023
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